Reality Really Was Far More Fantastical Than Fiction

"Sensei, Elder Danzo isn't planning to..." Kenichi Amamiya drew a finger across his throat.

Danzo had long coveted the position of Hokage. If the Third had not kept him suppressed for so long, he would have acted long ago. Now, the opportunity was perfect.

Kenichi Amamiya did not understand why Danzo was not making a move.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi lost his arm for the village, after all, and he has no intention of leaving Konoha now." Orochimaru sneered. His teacher truly was cautious enough.

Kenichi Amamiya understood. That was indeed the case. The Third's reputation in the village was extremely high right now, and his impassioned speech about the Will of Fire at today's funeral had won him plenty of applause.

If something happened in the village at a time like this, it would practically be a slap in the face. Unless the Third left the village and was assassinated outside, that would be safer.

But the Third clearly had no intention of leaving Konoha. He planned to resolve the issue of his arm as soon as possible and return to the position of Hokage.

"The payment this time is quite generous. Helping out won't hurt." Thinking of the reward, Orochimaru's mood improved considerably.

Kenichi Amamiya nodded in understanding. No wonder his teacher had agreed to help.

Still, it seemed his teacher did not currently hold much killing intent toward the Third. Had something happened later on?

"Enough. You were the one who brought up the concept of Rejection, so now I need your help as well. Come on, Sarutobi has been urging us quite insistently." Orochimaru waved a hand. His teacher was in quite a hurry.

All the clever people in Konoha knew that Sarutobi could not be touched within the village, but this opportunity was simply too rare.

Even if Danzo did not make a move against Hiruzen Sarutobi, he might recommend himself as the Fifth Hokage.

Wouldn't that leave his teacher's efforts for nothing?

And given Danzo's temperament, he would probably begin that plan very soon.

Previously, Orochimaru would indeed have been interested, but he had seen through it all now. He truly did not want to involve himself in this political vortex, so rotten it made him nauseous.

Konoha needed rebirth, and rebirth often emerged from the ruins of destruction.

"My help?" Kenichi Amamiya froze, but then he thought of something. His teacher had probably brought him along as an extra pair of hands.

After all, he had already explained Rejection thoroughly, and his teacher understood it now. Theoretically, there was nothing he needed to help with.

But after arriving inside a building, Kenichi Amamiya finally understood why his teacher had brought him.

Because many ninja stood inside the building at that moment. Some were excited, some were frightened, some were uneasy—every sort of expression was present.

"Sensei, this is..." Kenichi Amamiya thought of the arm transplant his teacher had just mentioned.

Was this how they intended to handle the transplant?

"The ninja who were killed or wounded yesterday have already been buried, and the bodies have begun to decay." Orochimaru remained calm, but Kenichi Amamiya could sense the chill in his eyes.

"The Sarutobi Clan issued a call. Whoever ultimately provides an arm for the Third will receive a substantial pension and be given a job at the mission hall." After hearing his teacher's words, Kenichi Amamiya understood.

Just as he had thought, these people had come for Rejection testing. The one with the highest compatibility would provide an arm for Hiruzen Sarutobi's transplant.

Some might have come for the sake of making a living. After all, a substantial pension and a job at the mission hall were very tempting, and the price was merely losing their left hand.

Others had come because of the Will of Fire, believing that sacrificing themselves for a heroic figure like the Third was an exceedingly happy thing.

"This is practically brainwashing." Kenichi Amamiya shook his head, but he said nothing and simply carried out his duties honestly.

There were many participants, and with the Anbu maintaining order and the Third occasionally coming over to thank them, the seemingly complicated work was completed quickly.

Looking at the fortunate man who had been selected early on as the perfect match, Kenichi Amamiya wiped his hands.

Come to think of it, Medical Ninjutsu in the Ninja World was truly strange. Transplant operations that would have been difficult even in his previous life were easy to complete here.

Watching the Third thank the man, while that ninja looked delighted and proud, Kenichi Amamiya felt that this world was far too fantastical.

"Let's go. We have nothing more to do here." Orochimaru left directly. If he had not needed to stay and observe, he would have left as soon as a suitable target was found. Now, he could finally go.

As Kenichi Amamiya was leaving, he could not help looking back. The Third happened to be looking toward him and his teacher as well, and their gazes met.

The Third stood beneath the sunlight, radiance falling across him, surrounded by lively ninja celebrating for him.

Kenichi Amamiya turned back and followed his teacher into the dark corridor. There was no one around them, and all he could hear was the clamor behind them.

But when they pushed open the door, sunlight streamed in from outside as well.

"Want to get some barbecue, Kenichi?" Orochimaru turned back with a smile and asked his disciple. Kenichi Amamiya froze for a moment.

At that instant, he could not help overlaying the girl he had seen before—the one who seemed to be a potential target for Living Corpse Reincarnation—onto his teacher.

If Sensei looked like that girl...

"Sure, Sensei." Kenichi Amamiya smiled brightly.

It was the familiar Akimichi Clan BBQ Restaurant, but this time Orochimaru had unusually invited Mitaraishi Anko as well. Kenichi Amamiya was somewhat surprised, though he did not find it too strange.

But as he watched his teacher occasionally show concern for Mitaraishi Anko at the table, Kenichi Amamiya's expression became strange.

It looked somewhat like he was making arrangements for after his death.

Of course, Orochimaru definitely would not die, so he was certainly not arranging his last affairs. That left only one possibility: his teacher planned to leave Konoha. It was highly likely.

That was why he had invited Mitaraishi Anko over and spoken to her about certain matters. Though others might not see it as concern.

For Kenichi Amamiya, who understood his teacher very well, it was extraordinarily rare concern.

"Are you leaving Konoha?" Kenichi Amamiya felt somewhat excited.

Conducting experiments in Konoha came with countless obstacles. Leaving Konoha would be more troublesome at first, but afterward they would have much more freedom, and every kind of experiment could be carried out.

Kenichi Amamiya glanced at his teacher. He had a rather curious idea.